When things get this bad, there's something to be said for dumping a lot of the other dead weight and giving core fans one last thrill with the longer-term characters.

And clearly, if this is true + the John/Marlena/Phillip stuff, it's not like they're restructuring "for the viewers." It's so they can squeeze out the last drop. It's their product so, y'know, more power to 'em. But it still bugs.